Electric machine having a liquid-cooled rotor

Abstract

An electric machine for a power system is disclosed. The electric machine has a housing with a first end cap and a second end cap. The first end cap has a first fluid passageway, and the second end cap has a second fluid passageway. The electric machine also has a stator fixedly disposed within the housing, and a rotor rotationally disposed radially inward from the stator. The rotor has an axial passageway fluidly communicating the first fluid passageway with the second fluid passageway.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]The present disclosure relates generally to an electric machine and, more particularly, to an electric machine having a liquid-cooled rotor.BACKGROUND [0002]Electric machines such as, for example, motors and generators may be used to generate mechanical power in response to an electrical input or to generate electrical power in response to a mechanical input. Magnetic, resistive, and mechanical losses within the motors and generators during mechanical and electrical power generation cause a build up of heat, which may be dissipated to avoid malfunction and / or failure of the electric machine. One of the limitations on the power output of the electric machines may be the capacity of the electric machine to dissipate this heat.[0003]One method of dissipating heat within a generator includes directing a cooling medium into the generator via a rotor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,733 (the '733 patent) to Kano et al. teaches an excitation-type AC generator having ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One of the limitations on the power output of the electric machines may be the capacity of the electric machine to dissipate this heat.

Although the radially-bored passageways of the rotor shaft may facilitate some heat removal from portions of the excitation-type AC generator, they may remove too little heat, and the removal of h...

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